Rural Development Division

The Rural Development Division

The Rural Economic Development Division, created in 2013 through GS 143B-472.126, was established to improve the economic well-being and quality of life of North Carolinian's with particular emphasis on rural communities. The Division, directed by Kenny Flowers (kenny.flowers@nccommerce.com), Assistant Secretary for Rural Development, has a number of grant programs and planning services to assist rural counties and rural census tracts:

Disaster Recovery Grants

The Disaster Recovery Act of 2016 (S.L. 2016-124) provided funds to the Golden LEAF Foundation and the N.C. Department of Commerce’s Rural Economic Development Division to provide grants to local governments for repair, replacement, or construction of new infrastructure (including water, sewer, sidewalks and storm drainage) and other, similar projects that provide assistance for recovery from Hurricane Matthew, the western wildfires, or Tropical Storms Julia and Hermine. Funds are available through a joint application process administered by the Golden LEAF Foundation and the N.C. Commerce Rural Economic Development Division. Application materials are available at http://goldenleaf.org/DisasterRecoveryGrantProgram.html and should be submitted according to the instructions provided. Completed applications are due on March 3.

The Rural Grants Program provides building renovation and economic infrastructure grants for job creation. The building renovation program is administered by Hazel Edmond (hazel.edmond@nccommerce.com); the economic infrastructure program by Melody Adams (melody.adams@nccommerce.com). All grants are awarded by a 15-member appointed Rural Infrastructure Authority. A building demolition grant program is currently under development.

The Community Development Block Grant for Economic Development (CDBG-ED)

The Community Development Block Grant for Economic Development (CDBG-ED) provides grants to local governments that partner with a pro-profit business to bring public infrastructure improvements and building renovation services. The program is administered by Kenny Stagg (kstagg@nccommerce.com). All grants are awarded by a 15-member appointed Rural Infrastructure Authority.

The Industrial Development Fund / Utility Fund

The Industrial Development Fund / Utility Fund provides grants to units of local government for public infrastructure in Tier 1 and Tier 2 counties to assist in job creation. The program is directed by Mark Poole (mpoole@nccommerce.com). All grants are awarded by a 15-member appointed Rural Infrastructure Authority.

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is a 13-state Federal Commission providing a federal-state partnership that serves 29 counties in Western North Carolina. The ARC provides grants for various categories of social and economic services and is directed by the North Carolina Program Manager, Olivia Collier (ocollier@nccommerce.com).

The NC Main Street Center provides downtown development assistance through the NC Main Street and the Small Town Main Street programs. The Main Street Solutions Fund grant program is administered through the NC Main Street Center and is directed by Liz Parham (lparham@nccommerce.com).

The Rural Planning offices provide assistance across the state and are located in the West (Asheville), the Piedmont (Winston-Salem), and the East (Washington). Experienced staff are helping local governments add value to their economic and community development projects through planning, analysis and resource identification. The Rural Planning program is lead by Darren Rhodes (drhodes@nccommerce.com).